"You two," Dove jabbed a trembling finger at the lounging gods as he pulled on his jacket in a rush."Do not do anything stupid. Don't leave the house. Don't break anything. Got it?!"
Thor waved him off like a pesky fly."Worry not, mortal. Go do your… mortal things."
Loki only smirked."No promises."
That was the last thing Dove heard before the door slammed behind him as he sprinted off to catch the bus.
Ten sweaty, breathless minutes later…
He skidded into the convenience store, hair a mess, shirt only half tucked in.And there was his boss — Mira — leaning against the counter with arms crossed and a gaze so sharp it could cut glass.
Mira was one of those people who could smile and look like she was about to murder you.And she was beautiful, which somehow made it even worse.
"Ten a.m.," she said calmly, her tone deceptively sweet.
Dove forced a sheepish grin."Hey, uh, Mira… sorry, I can explain—"
"You're an hour late," Mira cut him off.Her eyes narrowed."That's a pay cut. Again."
And Dove?He felt his soul leave his body.
"Yes, ma'am," he managed weakly, head drooping as he shuffled behind the counter like a condemned man.
Meanwhile, back at Dove's apartment…
Thor had already found the TV remote — an ancient, sticky thing missing two buttons — and was clicking wildly through the channels.
Loki lounged back on the couch with one leg crossed over the other, idly twirling a tiny green illusion between his fingers as entertainment.
He glanced at the screen and raised a brow.
"Is this really what mortals watch?" Loki drawled.
Thor was already mesmerized."Yes," he rumbled seriously."You wouldn't believe what passes for entertainment here."
He flipped past some loud morning talk show, then onto a cooking segment, then to some overacted soap opera with a woman crying dramatically over a bowl of soup.
And Thor?He stopped.
Loki sat up slightly, incredulous."You like this?"
Thor gave him a shrug like a kid caught with a cookie jar."They speak of honor, of betrayal… this one just declared revenge because someone ate her rice."
He chuckled, leaning in like the plot was riveting.
Loki pinched the bridge of his nose."You lost your hammer and your taste, apparently."
And Thor just grunted, clicking the volume up louder,completely invested.
And in the background, the ceiling hole still gaped like a jagged mouth —waiting to add another disaster to Dove's ever-growing list.